Stephen D'Agata

The fourth issue raised in ‘The Vatican Today’ memo, raises issue with financial management at the Vatican. If the author of the memo is the individual they are purported to be, then they should know a bit about this topic. It appears that significant reforms were put forward but not all were fully implemented causing the author to be frustrated.

The author acknowledges that issues with financial mismanagement predate both Pope Francis and Pope Benedict. Nevertheless, deficits are increasing, millions continue to be lost in dodgy property deals, and investment returns on properties owned by the Vatican are decreasing. The author believes that some of these issues could have been redressed by the reforms put forward and accuses Pope Francis of backing away from these reforms.

It is difficult for me to argue with this given the expertise of the purported author. My observation is that financial corruption has obviously been entrenched in the Vatican for decades if not centuries and perhaps there are forces at play there which are not so easily subdued. Perhaps these forces are stronger than the perceived omnipotence of a Pope. It is rumoured that these forces got the better of the purported author as well by providing financial aid to the litigants who had accused them of sexual abuse. Sadly, those litigants didn’t get the justice they deserved.

I find it hard to reconcile some of the author’s concerns with what should be the mission of the church. Should the church put getting a commercial return on its properties above providing offices and accommodation for those conducting their ministries? Could the church divest some properties to the State as tourism sites and balance their finances that way? Could they sell a Caravaggio or two? That would bring in some cash.

I fear that ridding the Vatican of corruption cannot be achieved the good intentions of one good Pope. This is one of the struggles I am confronting in writing the next instalment of Pope Dreams, and you may guess from the above, what one of the chapter headings may be.